Mermaids Patrons:
"CAPTAIN HANNAH GRAF
We are honoured to work closely with Captain Hannah Graf, of the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers. Hannah is a Captain in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and the first transgender officer
Before working in the banking sector, she commanded a unit of 85 soldiers and is responsible for the recovery, maintenance and repair of a variety of equipment including the Army’s main battle tank. Hannah went to a military sixth form college at the age of 16 and subsequently studied for her Masters of Engineering at Newcastle University before commissioning from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 201
JAKE GRAF
We are delighted to introduce Jake Graf, director, writer and actor. Jake is a high-profile trans man who wants to make a difference to how trans children and young people are perceived.
ANNIE WALLACE
Annie Wallace is an actress from Aberdeen, Scotland. A former National Youth Theatre member, she graduated from the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre in 2004 and has also appeared in many theatre productions. As well as being a performer, Annie writes and records music and is a skilled sound recordist and designer.
On the 29th of October 2015, Annie made history by becoming the first transgender person to play a regular transgender character in a British soap opera when she debuted as school headteacher, Sally St. Claire in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.
AYLA
Ayla served in the RAF for 13 years, spent 7 years as an operational Search and Rescue pilot and now flies helicopters for the National Police Air Service. Ayla came out as transgender around 2010 and remained serving with her operational Search and Rescue unit throughout. The support and pragmatism from her colleagues and the wider armed forces, made that transitional time not only possible, but empowering and successful. Ayla is the professional she is today, because she wasn’t forced to hide who she was.
Alongside her day-job, Ayla has worked with All About Trans, Stonewall and independently advocating for positive trans representation and role models.
CHARLIE MARTIN
Charlie Martin is a racing driver on a mission to become the first transgender competitor in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans – the most famous race in the world. Growing up, she dreamed of being a fighter pilot, and her love of speed and adventure grew into a love of fast cars. Since she began racing at the age of 23, she has raced throughout Europe in a variety of cars from hot hatches, to single seaters, GT cars and Le Mans prototypes.
When Charlie began her transition at the age of 30, she abandoned racing altogether, unable to see how she could be accepted in such a conservative and male-dominated sport"
mermaidsuk.org.uk/patrons/